GM, Google To Take on Ford's Sync?

GM and Google are currently in negotiations to develop in-car telematics that could compete with Microsoft and Ford Sync, Motor Trend reports.

GM and Google are currently in negotiations to develop in-car telematics that could compete with Microsoft and Ford Sync, Motor Trend reports.

Unnamed sources were quoted as saying that Google could sell its Android OS for in-car use; the system would let GM customers pair vehicles with smartphones, and could also let vehicle owners open, start, and adjust their cars and trucks.

The report said that Google's OS "would render useless GM-owned OnStar's turn-by-turn navigation system," since Android has its own GPS software--something that could be a sticking point in negotiations with GM.

There's already an Android version of GM's Chevy Volt app available (pictured), so bringing Android into the car would be a natural progression for the two companies--if they can work out the particulars, that is.

Jamie Lendino is the Editor-In-Chief of ExtremeTech.com, and has written for PCMag.com and the print magazine since 2005. Recently, Jamie ran the consumer electronics and mobile teams at PCMag, and before that, he was the Editor In Chief of Smart Device Central, PCMag's dedicated smartphone site, for its entire three-year run from 2006 to 2009. Prior to PCMag, he was a contributing editor for Laptop and mediabistro.com. His writing has also appeared in the print editions of Popular Science, Electronic Musician, and Sound and Vision,...
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